Art of manufacturing cementitious products or artificial stone.



PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

W. E. JAQUES.

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ART OF MANUFACTURING GEMBNIITIOUS PRODUCTS OR ARTIFICIAL STONE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15.1904. RENEWED JULY 2, 1906.

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PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

W. E. JAQUES. ART OF MANUFACTURING GBMENTITIOUS PRODUCTS OR ARTIFICIALSTONE.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJS, 1904. RENEWED JULY 2,1906.

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UNITED sTA r s PATENT OFFICE.

EVILLIAM E. J AQUES, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ART OF MANUFACTURING CEMENTITIOUS PRODUCTS OR ARTIFICIAL STONE.

Specification of Letters Patent...

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed February 15, 1904. Renewed July 2, 1906. Serial No.324,491.

To (L66 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM l'l. JAQUES, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Artof Manufacturing Cementitious Products or Artificial Stone; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear,'and enact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of manufacturingproducts of cementitious material or artificial stone.

One object of this invention is to make cementitious products orartificial stone Whose constituent particles are closely compacted.

Another object is to form a vertically-an ranged column of moist andunset cementitious material, to elevate the said column intermittentlyby successive additions of cementitious material to the lower end of thecolumn, to remove sections successively from the upper end of saidcolumn, and to facilitate the separation of the said sections from theupper end of the column.

Another object is not only to compact cementitious material added to thelower end of the column from below, but to utilize also the weight ofthe cementitious column in compacting the material thus added to thesaid column.

Another object is to prevent any waste of moisture or cementitiousslurry gravitating from the lower end of the cementitious column and toutilize such moisture or cementitious slurry in connection with fresh,moist, and unset cementitious material fed to the lower end of the saidcolumn. With these objects in view and to the end of realizingadvantages hereinafter appearing this invention consists in the novelsteps or process hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

Apparatus suitable for use in carrying out the improved steps or processwhich constitute the subjectnnatter of this application is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation,largely in section, of the said apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan of thelower portion of the apparatus, partly in section, on line 2 2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a side elevation, largely in vertical section, of

the lower portion of the apparatus. In this figure the plunger G isshown in its upper position and the plunger F appears in its innerposition. Fig. 4 is a top plan of the upper portion of the apparatus.Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Referring to the said drawings, A dcsignates a vertically-arrangcdhollow column, shaft, or tube wherein a moist and unset cementitiouscolumn is formed. The part A will hereinafter in this specification bereferred to as a shaft, in whose interior passage-way B cemcntitiousmaterial is accumulated to form the cementitious column C. The passageway B extends from within the lower encl. to the upper end of the shaftA. tious column (l, composed of moist and onset ccmcntitious material,is elevated and elongated within the shaft A by the addition to thelower end of the column of moist and unset cemcntitious material. Thedrawings illustrate the formation of and manner of elevating the columnC, and sections or pieces are successively removed from the upper end ofthe said column, as will hereinafter appear.

At one side of and adjacent to the lower end portion of the shaft A is ahopper I), which is supplied with the moist and unset eementitiousmaterial C, which is to be fed and added to the lower end of thecementitious column C, formed within and by the said shaft.

A desirable ccmentitious mass used in making cementitious products orartificial stone is a concrete or mixture having any suitableceincntitious substance-such, for instance, as hydraulic cement as aningredient and comprising also sand and moisture in suitableproportions. The cement or cementitious substance and water are firstmixed together, so as to form a cementitious slurry. Then this slurry isadded to the sand in suitable proportions-as, for instance, in theproportion of one part, by weight, of the slurry to two parts of sand.Then the cementitious slurry and the sand are thoroughly mixed together.

The hopper D is provided at its lower end with a downwardly-dischargingopening or outlet (1, which connects with the interior chamber 6 of ahorizontally-arranged case E,

and a plunger F snugly fits within and is caable of reciprocationcndwisc of the chamlier e and feeds ccinentitious material from thehopper D into the interior passage-way B The cemcntiof the shaft Athrough a lateral charging aperture or inlet a, with which. the saidshaft is provided at the discharging end of the chamber e. The shaft Aextends far enough below the case E to accommodate the location and o)eration of a plunger G, which fits snugly within the lower end of thesaid shaft and is capable of reciprocation vertically.

The charging aperture or inlet a of the shaft A extends upwardly fromthe bottom of the chamber 0 and the full width of the said chamber, asshown in Fig. 2. The a erture 0 establishes connnul'lication, there ore,

between the passage-way B and the chamber e and preferably extendsupwardly far enough above the chamber 0, as at 10, (see Figs. 1 and 3,)to establish connnunication. also between the outlet (1 of the hopper Dand the said passage-way.

The plunger F is operated in any approved manner and hasoutwardly-projecting arms f, which (see Figs. 1 and 2) are provided withrollers [1, arranged horizontally and in line endwise and at a rightangle to the path of the said plunger, which rollers engage withcant-forming grooves It, formed in a camwheel K, which is operativelymounted upon a suitably-supported shaft L, which is arrangedhorizontally and at a right angle to the )ath of the said plunger.

The plunger G is operated in any approved manner and has a dependingstem 9, which is provided at its lower and free end with a roller 1,arranged horizontallv and at a right angle to the path of the plunger G.The roller l engages the cam-forming peripheral surface of a cam-wheelM, which is operatively mounted upon a suitably-supported horizontalshaft N, which is arranged arallelly with the first-mentioned shaft Land o )eratively provided with a driving-wheel 'n. T 1e plunger Gobviously lowers by gravity and is elevated by the cam-wheel M.

An operative connection between the two shafts L and N is establishedand comprises an endless chain 0, leading over and operativel r engagingsprocket-wheels I and J, which are operatively mounted on the shafts Land N, respectively.

The arrangement of the parts and the trend of the cam-forming surfacesof the camwheels K and M are such that the lunger G in its lowerposition, as shown in ig. 1, has its up er and pressure-exerting faceflush with t e bottom of the chamber 2; that during the first portion ofthe dwell of said plunger in its lower position the plunger F is in itsouter position; that moist and unset cementitious material is fed fromthe hopper D into the chamber 6 in advance of the plunger F; that theplunger F is actuated forwardly or inwardly to feed the material fed inadvance of the said plunger through the a erture or inlet a into thepassage-way B an onto the plunger G; that the plunger G remains in itslower position during the inward travel or feeding operation of theplunger F and adds the said material to the lower end of the cementitious column during the next succeeding upward movement of theplunger (l, as shown in Fig. 3 that the plunger F does not move as faras the aperture 0 during the feeding operations, so as to avoid interrution in the communication between the chamber 6 and the inlet of thehopper D and. so that any excess of material in advance of the )lunger Gcan escape or return during the fee ing operation of the said plunger Gback into the said chamber or into the hopper; that the two plun ers Fand G make their return or idle stro (es simultaneously or a proximatelysimultaneously, and that t e lunger G in its upper position, as shown inFig. 3, does not cover the upper end of the aperture or inlet a wherethe said inlet communicates directly with the outlet of the ho pper, sothat communication between the passage-way B and the interior chamber ofthe hopper is never interrupted and cementitious slurry or moisturegravitating from the cementitious column C or displaced from the saidpassage-way during the feeding operations of the plunger G can escapeinto the hop per and into the chamber 6, and the cementitious slurry ormoisture thus displaced or escaping from the shaft A is not only notwasted, but actually used to great advantage in insuring the resence ofthe required amount of cementitious substance and moisture in thecharges of material successively plane where sections are removed fromthe s upper end of the cementitious column C, so as not only tofacilitate the elevation of the said column by the said plunger duringthe addition of fresh cementitious material to the lower end of the saidcolumn, but to seat the said column upon oppositely-arranged slightlydownwardly diverging walls of the said passage-Way, and therebyadequately sup ort the column within and from the sha t A and ositivelyprevent any descent of the said co umn within the said shaft.

Very desirable results have been obtained with shafts from four to sixfeet high above the path of the plunger G, and the material composingthe upper end of the cementitious column is in a very satisfactorycondition for the severing of sections from the said end of the saidcolumn.

It will be observed that by the formation and upward feeding of acementitious column or compartments Q, which are arranged a Each shaft Tis arranged, therefore, a suitwithin the shaft A the particles composingI the said column are closely compacted, and the compacting of theparticles of any cementitious material added to the lower end of thecolumn is brought about not only by the plunger G in adding freshcementitious material under pressure to the lower end of the column, butalso and largely by the weight of the column.

The lower portion of the shaft A, from the upper extremity of the pathof the plunger G downwardly, is uniform in cross-section and forms aguide for the said plunger.

The cementitious column during the addition of fresh, moist, and unsetcementitious material to the lower end of the column is lifted into aninterior chamber or compartment Q of a reciprocating frame Q, which ismovable laterally in a horizontal plane at the upper end of the shaft A.The frame Q is provided with two corresponding chambers suitabledistance apart longitudinally of the path of the said frame. Eachchamber Q preferably has the dimensions required to hold a cementitiousblock or section capable of being subdivided into a predetermined numberof bricks on edge, and the passageway B next below the path of the frameQ corresponds in dimensions horizontally with the dimensionstransversely of the said chamber. The shaft A next below the path of theframe Q is provided (see Figs. 1 and 5) with an upwardly-facing surfaceI), which extends around the passageway B and forms a bottom hearing orseat for the frame Q, which is guided during its reciprocation by twoguide-forming walls 12, with which the shaft A is provided, at oppositesides, respectively, of the path of the said frame. The chambers Qextend vertically through the frame Q, and the arrangement of the partsis such that one or the other of the chambers Q of the said frame isexactly in line vertically and in full registry with the passage-way B,according as the said frame is in the one or the other of its positions.

Two pallets P and p are arranged a suitable distance apartlongitudinally of the path of the frame Q at opposite sides,respectively, of and in close proximity to the shaft A. Each palletrests removably upon a vertically-movable table R, which is large enoughin dimensions horizontally to render it capable of adequately supportingthe said pallet, and the shaft A is provided with verticallyarrangedguides 13 for the said table. Each table it is provided at its underside with a roller T, which engages the cam-forming peripheral surfaceof a ca1'nwheel t, operative-l y mounted ona horizontally-arranged shaftT, which is suitably supported from the shaft A.

able distance below and at a right angle to the path of the frame Theshafts T of the mechanism instrumental in the operation of both tables Rare operatively connected with each other by an endless chain n, leadingover sprocket-wheels W and 10, mounted on the different shafts T,respectively.

In Fig. l the frame Q is shown in position with one of its chambers Q infull registry with the passage-way B and empty ready to receive theupper end of the cementitious column C, durin the elevation of the saidcolumn during t e next succeeding upward stroke of the plunger G, andthe other chamber Q of the said frame is shown occupied in the saidfigure by a cementitious block or section C severed and ren'iovedfrom'the said column and in position to descend from the e11 agingchamber of the said frame with the a let P, and in the said figure theother palet p is shown laden and in its lower position next preparatoryto the replacin of the lastmentioned laden pallet by an un aden pallet.

The frame Q is provided at one end (see Figs. 1 and 4) with twooutwardly-projecting arms 15, which extend longitudinally of the path ofthe said frame at opposite sides, respectively, of the said path and areprovided with two parallel rollers 16, which extend transversely of thesaid frame and are arranged a suitable distance apart longitudinally ofthe frame. A cam-wheel 17, which has a cam-forming peripheral surfacearranged to operate between the rollers 16, is operatively mounted on ashaft 18, which arranged horizontally and transversely of and below thepath of the frame Q and supported in any approved manner from the shaftA. The shaft 18 is operatively provided with a. driving-wheel 20, towhich power is applied in any approved manner. An endless chain 24 leadsover a sprocket-wheel 23, operatively mounted on one of the shafts T,and also 0 eratively engages a s rocket-wheel 25, operatively mounted ontlie shaft 18.

The parts are so arranged and timed that during the reciprocation of theframe Q each chamber Q of the frame Q comes in. full registry with thepassage-way B when the other chamber Q of the said frame is in positionover a pallet; that one of the chambers Q is brought into position overthe pallet P or the other chamber Q is brought into position over thepallet p, according as the frame Q is in the one or the other of itspositions; that the portion of the cementitious column C, lifted intoeither chamber Q of the 'flfllTIG Q, so as to fill the said chamber, issevered horizontally from the remainder of the said column during thenext stroke of the said frame; that the different chambers Q are filledalternately; that sections are removed successively from the upper endof the cementitious column C, but in opposite directions alternatelythat the frame Q delivers or feeds cementitious sections alternatelyonto the pallet of the different tables, respectively, and

that each pallet-bearing table when. the pallet thereon is to receivethe next cementitious section moves into its upper position ready toreceive the said cementitious section, which may, if desired, besubdivided into bricks or predetermined products.

Each chamber of the frame Q is quadrangular in plan and is shown largeenough in dimensions horizontally and. deep enough vertically to hold acementitious block or sec tion C, divisible into ten ordinary bricks.The said chamber is therefore four inches deep vertically, about twentyinches long, and eight inches wide and arranged with its len thwidthwise of the path of the frame Q, an of course the passage-way B ofthe shaft A, next below the said path measures, therefore, about twentyinches transversely of the said path and eight inches longitudinally ofthe said path. Each chamber Q whenv in position registering fully andexactly with the passage-way B forms an upward extension of the saidJassageavay and permits the cementitious co umn C, formed in and by theshaft A, to be lifted into and thereby fill the said chamber. The partsare so arranged and timed, furthermore, that fresh, moist, and unsetccmentitious material is added to the lower end of the column C by theplunger G, and the said column is lifted by and during the addition ofthe said material to the column into a chamber Q when the said chamberis brought into full registry with the passage-way B against the underside of a ead 14, with which the shaft A is provided, which head extendstransversely of and over or bridges the path of the frame Q and extendsbetween and is rigid with the Walls or uides 12. The head 14 (see Figs.4 and 5) is arge enough in dimensions horizontally to render it capableof com )letely covering a chamber Qwhcn the said c iamber is broughtinto full registry with the passage-way B and forms an abutment for theupper end of the elevated cementitious column and operates to trowel thetop of the cementitious sections severed and removed successively by theframe Q from the said column during the reciprocation of the said frame.

The pallets P and p are large enough in dimensions to receive acementitious section C severed from the column C, and to com pletelycover the said section from below. A pallet suitable for receiving acementitious section C twenty inches long and eight inches wide wouldtherefore be at least twenty inches long and eight inches wide and arraned transversely of and next below the pat1 of the frame Q. Eachcementitious section C conveyed by the frame Q onto a pallet will uponbeing received by the said pallet descend by gravity with the alletduring the next descent of the table earing the said pallet; but, ifdesired or required, pressure by a plunger (not shown) or otherwise maybe exerted on top of the said cementitious section to assist gravity inloosening the said section relative. to the frame Q.

I would here remark that the cementitious slurry employed with sand inthe proportion heretofore specified in making the desired cementitiousmass contains more liquid or moisture than necessary for incasing all ofthe particles of the sand of the original mass; that the solid particlesof the cementitious column (l are more closely compacted as the saidcolumn ascends within the shaft A that obviously any quantity ofcementitious slurry remaining free in the mass and not already employedin permanently incasing particles of sand with cement will during theascent of the column be spread or distributed and coat any surfacesnewly formed upon particles of sand during the compacting of the solidparticles of the mass within the shaft A and any oementitious moisturenot finding employment in coating surfaces of sand particles will besqueezed downwardly and descend by gravity and escape at the lower endof the cementitious column, where the said moisture or thin cementitiousslurry is added to fresh, moist, and unset cementitious material nextadded to the lower end of the said column. 1 would remark also that theupper portion of the ccmentitious column is equally moist transversely;that the cementitious material added to the lower end of the columnbecomes drier as it ascends and becomes uniform in every respecttransversely of the column; that the said material upon reaching theupper end of the column is, while still unset, but not too moist, in themost desirable condition for conversion into bricks or other desiredcementitious products; that the said u pp er portion of the column isreadily broken or severed from the remainder of the column; that thesections successively severed and removed from the upper end of thecolumn are readily capable of subdivision while the material composingthem has still to set and harden, and that the pallets laden with thecementitious blocks, bricks, or products are conveyed. to and left inany convenient lace until the products thereon have comp etely set andhardened. I would remark, furthermore, that to prevent the tables R fromtipping between the guides 13 the shaft A is provided with. pins as,which project into vertically-arranged rooves 1 formed in the saidtables. It will e observed also that the shaft 18 extends through thepath of the arms 15, and consequently the said arms are slottedlongitudinally, as at 19, to accommodate the location of the said shaft,which by its extension through the said arms desirably steadies thelatter.

The apparatus hereinbefore described and employed in carrying out theprocess which constitutes the subject-matter of this application formsthe subject-matter of a contemporaneous application filed simultaneouslywith this application.

What I claim is- An improvement in the art of making cementitiousproducts or artificial stone, consisting in forming a moist and unsetupright cementitious column having predetermined dimensions transverselyat its upper extremity, adding fresh moist and unset cementitiousmaterial to the column at its lower extremity, lifting the column into as ace corresponding in dimensions transverse y with the transversedimensions of the upper extremity of the column and against adoWnWardly-fac- 15 ing surface, and then severing and separatin thesection of the column lifted into the sai space from the remainder ofthe column, and s iding the said section along the aforesaid surface andthereby troweling the said sec- 20 tion on top.

In testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification in the presenceof two Witnesses.

WILLIAM E. JAQUES.

Witnesses:

C. H. DoRER, G. M. HAYES.

